---
kind: "section"
citation: "47 U.S.C. § 415"
title: "47"
title_heading: "Telecommunications"
number: "415"
heading: "Limitations of actions"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/47/415"
units:
  - "Chapter 5 — Wire or Radio Communication"
  - "Subchapter IV — Procedural and Administrative Provisions"
---

# §415. Limitations of actions

- (a) **Recovery of charges by carrier—** All actions at law by [carriers](/usc/47/153.md?p=11) for recovery of their lawful charges, or any part thereof, shall be begun within two years from the time the cause of action accrues, and not after.
- (b) **Recovery of damages—** All complaints against [carriers](/usc/47/153.md?p=11) for the recovery of damages not based on overcharges shall be filed with the Commission within two years from the time the cause of action accrues, and not after, subject to [subsection (d)](#d) of this section.
- (c) **Recovery of overcharges—** For recovery of overcharges action at law shall be begun or complaint filed with the Commission against [carriers](/usc/47/153.md?p=11) within two years from the time the cause of action accrues, and not after, subject to [subsection (d)](#d) of this section, except that if claim for the overcharge has been presented in writing to the [carrier](/usc/47/153.md?p=11) within the two-year period of limitation said period shall be extended to include two years from the time notice in writing is given by the [carrier](/usc/47/153.md?p=11) to the claimant of disallowance of the claim, or any part or parts thereof, specified in the notice.
- (d) **Extension—** If on or before expiration of the period of limitation in subsection [(b)](#b) or [(c)](#c) a [carrier](/usc/47/153.md?p=11) begins action under [subsection (a)](#a) for recovery of lawful charges in respect of the same service, or, without beginning action, collects charges in respect of that service, said period of limitation shall be extended to include ninety days from the time such action is begun or such charges are collected by the [carrier](/usc/47/153.md?p=11).
- (e) **Accrual of cause of action for transmission of message—** The cause of action in respect of the transmission of a message shall, for the purposes of this section, be deemed to accrue upon delivery or tender of delivery thereof by the [carrier](/usc/47/153.md?p=11), and not after.
- (f) **Enforcement petition—** A petition for the enforcement of an order of the Commission for the payment of money shall be filed in the district court or the [State](/usc/47/153.md?p=47) court within one year from the date of the order, and not after.
- (g) **“Overcharges” defined—** The term “overcharges” as used in this section shall be deemed to mean charges for services in excess of those applicable thereto under the schedules of charges lawfully on file with the Commission.

## Source credit

(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title IV, § 415, 48 Stat. 1099; Pub. L. 93–507, Nov. 30, 1974, 88 Stat. 1577.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1974—Subsecs. (a) to (c). Pub. L. 93–507 amended subsecs. (a) to (c) generally, substituting reference to two years for reference to one year wherever appearing.